Dr. William Snape is a medical specialist in adult gastroenterology and transplant hepatology (liver transplant medicine). Dr. Snape has received a 2.5 out of 5 star rating by his patients. He is especially interested in gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders) and liver disease. He accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medi-Cal, in addition to other insurance carriers. Before performing his residency at Jacobi Medical Center, Dr. Snape attended Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College for medical school. Dr. Snape's hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, and California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). He has an open panel.

Dr. Jennifer Burgis' specialty is pediatric gastroenterology. In her practice, Dr. Burgis focuses on hepatobiliary disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and transplant procedures. She takes Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Valley Health Plan, in addition to other insurance carriers. After completing medical school at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, Dr. Burgis performed her residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Burgis is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), and Brown & Toland Physicians. She has an open panel.

Dr. James Ostroff is an adult gastroenterology specialist in San Francisco, CA. Patient reviews placed him at an average of 3.5 stars out of 5. Clinical interests for Dr. Ostroff include ulcers, crohn's disease, and acute pancreatitis. He is professionally affiliated with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center. Dr. Ostroff is in-network for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Blue Shield, as well as other insurance carriers. After attending Weill Cornell Medical College for medical school, he completed his residency training at New York Hospital. He has received the distinction of San Francisco Super Doctors. Dr. Ostroff (or staff) speaks the following foreign languages: Mandarin, Arabic, and Spanish.

Dr. Elizabeth Yen is a medical specialist in pediatric gastroenterology. Her areas of expertise include the following: inflammatory bowel disease and eosinophilic esophagitis. Dr. Yen's professional affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, Alta Bates Medical Group (ABMG), and Boston Children's Hospital. She accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, CIGNA Plans, and more. She has an open panel. She is a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Yen's residency was performed at Seattle Children's Hospital. In addition to English, she speaks Spanish.

Dr. Richard Frederick is a specialist in adult gastroenterology and transplant hepatology (liver transplant medicine). He speaks Spanish. He has indicated that his clinical interests include gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders), liver disease, and liver transplant. Dr. Frederick's hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), and Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation. After attending New York Medical College for medical school, he completed his residency training at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Frederick accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medi-Cal, in addition to other insurance carriers. He has received the following distinction: San Francisco Super Doctors. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Stewart Cooper's areas of specialization are adult gastroenterology and hepatology (liver disease). In his practice, he is particularly interested in gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders). He honors Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare Choice, in addition to other insurance carriers. Dr. Cooper attended medical school at the University of Wales College of Medicine. Dr. Cooper offers language support for Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese-speaking patients. He is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), and Brown & Toland Physicians. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Michael Verhille is an adult gastroenterologist. He has a special interest in gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders). He has a 4.0 out of 5 star average patient rating. Dr. Verhille accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and CIGNA Plans, as well as other insurance carriers. His education and training includes medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and residency at California Pacific Medical Center. He has received professional recognition including the following: San Francisco Super Doctors. Dr. Verhille is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), and Brown & Toland Physicians. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Emily Perito's area of specialization is pediatric gastroenterology. She has indicated that her clinical interests include gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders), viral hepatitis, and liver transplant. Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and CIGNA Plans are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Perito takes. She attended Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons for medical school and subsequently trained at New York-Presbyterian Hospital for residency. In addition to English, she speaks Spanish. Her hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, Alta Bates Medical Group (ABMG), and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center. Dr. Perito is open to new patients.

Dr. Francis Yao's specialty is adult gastroenterology. He speaks the following foreign languages: Mandarin and Cantonese. Clinical interests for Dr. Yao include esophageal cancer, viral hepatitis, and stomach cancer. Dr. Yao is professionally affiliated with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center. He studied medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. Dr. Yao's residency was performed at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Blue Shield are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Yao honors.

Dr. D. Bissell's specialty is adult gastroenterology. Areas of expertise for Dr. Bissell include diarrhea, viral hepatitis, and gastroparesis. He takes Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Blue Shield, as well as other insurance carriers. He graduated from Harvard Medical School. His medical residency was performed at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Bissell has received the following distinction: San Francisco Super Doctors. He speaks French. He is affiliated with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.

Dr. Jonathan Terdiman is a physician who specializes in adult gastroenterology. He is rated highly by his patients. These areas are among his clinical interests: diarrhea, heartburn, and ulcers. Dr. Terdiman accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Blue Shield, as well as other insurance carriers. He attended Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He has received the following distinction: San Francisco Super Doctors. Dr. Terdiman is professionally affiliated with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.

Dr. Chanda Ho is a gastroenterology (digestive system), transplant hepatology (liver transplant medicine), and adult hepatology specialist in San Francisco, CA. She has indicated that her clinical interests include gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders) and liver transplant. Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medi-Cal are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Ho honors. Dr. Ho attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine and then went on to complete her residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. She is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, and California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). She has an open panel.

Dr. Maurizio Bonacini sees patients in San Francisco, CA. His medical specialties are adult gastroenterology and adult hepatology. Dr. Bonacini's areas of expertise include the following: gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders) and liver disease. Patient reviews placed him at an average of 4.0 stars out of 5. He takes Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medi-Cal, in addition to other insurance carriers. He graduated from Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and then he performed his residency at New York Hospital Queens and Booth Memorial Hospital. He has received the distinction of San Francisco Super Doctors. In addition to English, Dr. Bonacini (or staff) speaks Spanish, French, and Italian. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, California Pacific Medical Center, St. Luke's Campus, and Brown & Toland Physicians. His practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Uma Mahadevan is a medical specialist in adult gastroenterology. After completing medical school at SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine, she performed her residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Her areas of expertise consist of crohn's disease, pregnancy, and ulcerative colitis. Dr. Mahadevan accepts Blue Shield, Health Net, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and more. In addition to English, she speaks Tamil. Dr. Mahadevan is professionally affiliated with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.

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What are Gastrointestinal Problems?

The gastrointestinal system, or GI tract, is the name given to a collection of organs that work together to digest food. These organs fit together in a long tube, running from the mouth to the anus, and include the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, among others. With so many parts working together, complicated by today’s busy lifestyles and diets, digestive problems are common. As many as 1 in 3 Americans have a digestive or GI disorder. There are a huge variety of digestive problems, but the most common are IBS, constipation, GERD, hemorrhoids, and ulcers.

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, happens when the muscles surrounding the colon contract too easily or frequently. The result is abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea or constipation, gas and bloating. IBS attacks can often be brought on by specific triggers, so a key part of treatment is learning which foods trigger IBS attacks and avoiding them. Treatment also includes exercise, avoiding stress, and medications if needed.

Constipation, or large, hard, or infrequent stools, happens to everyone at some point. It can be caused by a disruption in routine or food, or by eating a diet without many fresh fruits and vegetables. Although it is uncomfortable, constipation is common and usually not serious, but it can sometimes become chronic. Adding fiber to the diet, exercising, and taking medications may help.

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a severe form of chronic heartburn where stomach acid spills back up into the esophagus. Left untreated, the acid may even eat away at the esophagus and cause serious damage. Treatment includes changing the diet to avoid trigger foods, losing weight if needed, medications, or even surgery.

Hemorrhoids are blood vessels around the rectum that become irritated, swollen or torn while straining during a bowel movement. They are most often caused by constipation, but can also be caused by pregnancy, diarrhea, or simply a genetic predisposition towards hemorrhoids. Treatment involves first treating any constipation issues, then keeping the area clean and soothed until it has healed. If these measures are ineffective, surgery is sometimes used.

Peptic ulcers are sores or spots of inflammation in the lining of the stomach or close to the stomach in the small intestine. Usually this area is coated with a protective lining that shields the tissue from the strong stomach acid, but a break in the lining can let acid in, causing the sores. It used to be thought that stress caused ulcers, but now we know that is not the case. Most often, they are caused by an infection by H. pylori bacteria, but ulcers can also be caused by alcohol abuse or overuse of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or other NSAIDS. The symptoms of an ulcer are pain, hunger, nausea, and fatigue.

Gastrointestinal problems, perhaps more than any other area, are markedly affected by lifestyle. Many disorders can be prevented or treated at least in part by eating a healthy diet high in fiber, exercising regularly, drinking enough water, and limiting alcohol intake. Still, the frequency of digestive disorders means that even the healthiest person can be affected by them. See your doctor if you notice blood in your stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or any significant change in bowel movements.